Apparatus for handling earth and grading



(No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 1.

J. T. MONTGOMERY, H. G. JORDAN, J. SOESBE, W. H. GILMAN & M. HARTMAN'.

- APPARATUS FOR HANDLING EARTH AND GRADING. 543, g nted JuFL 23,1895.

WITNESSES:

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. T. MONTGOMERY, H. 0. JORDAN, J. SOESBE, W. H. GILMAN 8c M. HARTMAN.

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING EARTH AND GRADING. No. 543.408- Jul Q3 95.

WITNESSES: I

J 1%.... @nwfiwmai ATTORNEYS.

(No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 3'.

J. T. MONTGOMERY, H. 0. JORDAN, J. "SOESBE, W'. H. GILMAN 80 M, HARTMAN.' APPARATUS FOR HANDLING EARTH AND GRADING.

No. 543,408. Patented July 23, 1895.

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NWNAWA em 511mm imwvkwm 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN T. MONTGOMERY, HENRY 0. JORDAN, JAMES SOESBE, WILLIAM H. A GILMAN, AND MOSES HARTMAN, OF BATTLE CREEK, IOWA.

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING EARTH AND GRADING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 543,408, dated July 23, 1895. Application filed-March 8, 1895. Serial li'o. 541,070- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN T. MONTGOMERY, HENRY 0. JORDAN, JAMES SOESBE, WILLIAM H. GILMAN, and Mosns HARTMAN, citizens of the United States, residing at Battle Creek, in the county of Ida and State of Iowa, have invented an Improved Grading and Ditching Machine, of which the following is a specification.

1 The object of this invention is to provide a machine adapted to excavate ditches or cellars, level the ground surface or convey earth from one point to the other, and to provide means whereby the scrapers may be moved in other than a straight line to clear obstructions, said machine to be of simple, cheap,

and durable construction and capable of being operated by a minimum of power to accomplish a given quantity of work.

Our invention consists, primarily, in the construction of the device for applying power to the endless chain and the means for connecting the scoops to the chain, and, further, in the construction and arrangement of the complete apparatus, as hereinafter set forth, .pointed out in our claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a top or plan view of the device for applying power to the endless chain. Figs. 2 and 3 are respectively side and end views of the same. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view of the connection between the endless chain and the scrapers. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view of the connection of the arms with the links of the chain. Fig. 6 is a diagrammatical view of thecomplete apparatus.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the frame of the device by which power is applied to the endless chain is seen to be composed of a base A, having vertical side pieces A passed completely around the frame, except at one end, having a horizontal top surface mounted on the axles A which have the wheels A on their ends, and a part A projecting upwardly and then inwardly over the center of the base. I

13 indicates a vertical shaft having hearings in said part A and the base A, and on said shaft are firmly fixed a flanged winding-drum B with its central portion on a level with the top of the sides A of the base, and a large gear-wheel B 0 indicates a horizontal shaft having its hearings on top of the part A of the frame and provided with a belt-wheel O on its outer end, to which power is applied by means of a stationary engine or the like- This power is transmitted to the drum B as follows:

0 indicates a vertical shaft mounted in the part A beyond the inner end of the shaft 0, and provided with a bevel gear-wheel C to mesh with a gear-wheel O on'the shaft 0, and also having a pinion O on its lower end to mesh with the cog-wheel B D indicates a suitable axle mounted on the inner end of the base A, at one side thereof, and having a collar D loosely mounted thereon, and provided with a flange D at its inner end. The periphery of this collar is on the same horizontal plane as the top of the side pieces A Alike device is located at the opposite side of the base A. The endless chain indicated by the reference-letter F is adapted to pass over the collar D thence horizontally around the drum B and over the remaining collar D H indicates a drum adapted to have the chain passed thereover and located at a point distant from the power-drum B having the section of earth to be excavated between the drums. This drum is of the same construction as the drum B with the exception that the mechanism for applying power thereto is omitted, and it is believed that a further description of its construction would be superfluous.

The means for connecting thescrapers with the chain at suitable points thereon comprises a flat bolt J, havingan enlarged rounded head J at one end and adapted to be ex- 0 tended horizontally through the-links in the chain. V p

J 3 indicates metal plates having upturned ends adapted to be bolted to the central portion of the part J, with said upturned ends in 5 engagement with the outer face of the link.

J indicates parallel metal bars pivoted to the top and under surfaces of the part J,

adapted to be extended outwardly from the chain, and on the outer end of said bar J is mounted a wheel J J indicates a brace connected at one end with the chainin advance of the bars J in the same manner and extended rearwardlyand outwardly and pivotally connected with the bars J at a point near their outer ends.

K indicates a scraper of common form, having abail K attached thereto connected with the outer end of the bar J by means of a' chain K M indicates a metal bar or track supported in a horizontal position by posts M at its ends and a hook M at its central portion connected with a post. This bar is supported in a horizontal plane a' slight distance above the ground surface and extended at right angles to the line of advance of the scrapers at a point beyond the end of the drum H.

N indicates a carriageframe having two flanged wheels N therein and mounted on the said bar M. A pulley N is attached to one end thereof, a pulley N is connected with the outer end ofthe frame of the drum H, and a rope N is passed around said pulleys N and N By this arrangement the endless chain is kept taut at all times, and the drum 11 maybe adjusted laterally in either direction by moving the'carriage on the bar M. This, it is obvious, will provide a large area, from which the earth may be taken without stopping the machine or moving the powerdrum.

If itis desired to deposit the earth at a point distant laterally from a line drawn between the two drums, we have provided a device comprising a frame composed of upper and lower bars P, havinga vertical slot P through which a stake 1? may be driven into the ground, and an extensile coil-springP placed in said slot in engagement with the end of the frame and the said stake P P indicates a pulley at the upper end of the frame and P an upwardly and outwardly inclined extension on top of the bar P. This frame is adapted to be connected with a stationary post by means of a tackle P It is obvious that the scrapers and chain may readily pass around said pulley P and under the extension P, and, further, that the pulley may movelaterally a slight distance when a strong tension is brought to bear on any part of the chain to allow a slight flexion and prevent the chain from breaking.

In practical use power is applied to the drum B and the chain caused to travel around the drums B and H and the pulley P with a continuous movement. The scrapers are held outwardly from the chain, and when traveling around the drums the bars which support the scrapers will engage the top surfaces of the side pieces A and thereby be held in a horizontal position and the scrapers be permitted to clear the said side pieces. When the scrapers are'traveling over the ground surface at a point between the any point on said line withinacomparatively wide range limited by the length of the chain K or the drum H maybe moved laterally by moving the carriage N and the earth taken from a range limited only by the length of the rod M. If it is desired to move the earth laterally from a line between the two drums, the frame P is placed at a suitable point laterally removed from the line between the two drums and the earth taken from any point throughout the movement of the chain and deposited at any other point. Any desirable number of scrapers may be attached to the chain in the same manner as herein described.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States therefor, is

1. An apparatus for excavating or removing ground, comprising two drums in a-horizontal plane, means for applying power to one of them, an endless chain or the like passed around said drums, one or more arms attached to said chain and extended horizontally outwardly therefrom and a scraper attached to said arm, a bar supported in a horizontal plane at right angles to a line drawn through the two drums at a point beyond the end of one drum, a suitable frame slidingly mounted thereon and pulleys connected with said frame and the frame of the drum and a rope passed through said pulleys, for the purposes stated.

2. An apparatus for excavating or removing ground, comprising two drums in a horizontal plane, means for applying power to one of them, an endless chain or the like passed around said drums, one or more arms attached to said chain and extended horizontally outwardly therefrom, a scraper attached to each arm, a suitable frame having a vertical slot, a flanged pulley at one end of the frame, a stake driven through said slot into the ground, an extensile coil spring in engagement with the said stake and the outer end of the frame, and means for securing the opposite end of the frame to a suitable support fixed in the ground, for the purposes stated.

3. In a grading and ditching apparatus, the combination of a frame having a suitable base and side pieces extended around said base with a horizontal top,,a flanged drum mounted on said frame in a horizontal plane with its central portion in approximately the IIO base with a horizontal top, a flanged drum mounted on said frame in a horizontal plane with its central portion in approximately the same plane as thetop of the side pieces, flangedcollars rotatably mounted at the opposite sides of one end of the frame and an endless chain or the like having horizontal arms fixed thereto and extended outwardly therefrom and scrapers attached to the said arms, and a bar supported in a horizontal position beyond the outer end of the frame, a

' carriage'mountedon the said bar and pulleys connected with the carriage and said frame, and a rope passed around said pulleys.

5. In a grading and ditching apparatus, a

1 power drum, comprising a frame having a suitable base, a side piece having a horizon- 'tal top extending around said frame, wheels for supporting said frame, flanged collars at the opposite side of the inner end of the frame, a flanged drum mountedon said frame in a horizontal plane with the central portion of the drum on the same plane as the top of said side pieces, a gear wheel fixed to the shaft of the drum and means for applying power to the said gear wheel, substantially as and for the purposes stated. 6. In a grading and ditching apparatus the combination with an endless chain, of a bar fixed to a link of the chain and extended horizontally outwardly therefrom, a wheel on its outer end and a brace pivotally connected with the chain at a point in advance of said bar, extended outwardly therefrom and pivotally attached to said bar, for the purposes stated. I

7. In a grading and ditching apparatus the combination with an endless chain, of a bar fixed to a link of the chain and extended horizontally outwardly therefrom, a wheel on its outer end and a brace pivotally connected I with a chain at a point in advance of said bar extended outwardly therefrom and pivotally attached to said bar, a chain attached to the upper end of said bar and asuitable scraper, having a bail connected with said chain, for the purposes stated.

8. The combination in agrading and ditching apparatus of an endless chain, a headed bolt adapted to be passed through a link in said chain, flanged plates on the upper and lower surfaces of said bolt, flat bars pivotally connected with the upper and lower surfaces of the outer end of said 'bolt, a wheel mounted on the outer ends of said bars, a

bolt having flanged plates at its upper and lower surfaces connected with the chain in advance of the aforesaid bolt and a brace pivotally attached to the outer end of said bolt and pivotally connected with the aforesaid bars, substantially as and for the purposes stated.

9. An improved grading. and ditching apparatus comprising a suitable frame mounted on wheels and having side pieces with a horizontal top, flanged rollers at the opposite sides of one end of said frame, a flanged drum mounted on said frame in a horizontal plane,

means for applying power to said.drum,a second frame having horizontal tops at its sides, flanged rollers at the opposite sides of one end thereof, aflanged drum mounted 'thereon'. in a horizontal plane, an iron bar extended in a horizontal'plane at right angles to a line drawn through said drums, a carriage on said bar and ropes connected therewith vand with said latter drum frame, an endless chain passed around said drums and having one or more arms fixed at right angles thereto, a wheel on the outer end of each arm and a brace pivoted to said arm and to the chain in advance of the arm, a scraper connected by means of a chain with the outer end ot the arm, a frame having a flanged pulley thereon and provided with a vertical slot, an extensile coil spring in said slot, and means for connecting the upper end of said frame to a post, all arranged and combined substantially as and for the purposes stated.

JOHN T. MONTGOMERY. HENRY 0. JORDAN. JAMES SOESBE. WILLIAM H. GILMAN. MOSES I-IARTMAN.

WVitnesses:

S. C. MoLLER, G. W. SAWYER, C, R. POWE L. 

